Hi waste-free lovers! In today’s post, I explore the places I’ve come to find create some of the most waste and just how easy it is to avoid them. Single-use plastic items are everywhere! It’s one thing to reduce your plastic consumption in your own household, but the challenge becomes that much greater when you try to dine out or hit the town for the night. Most places don’t even know where to begin when accommodating the plastic-free lifestyle. And some places can’t do anything about it.
Here’s a list of places (or things) to ditch on your journey.
1. Nail Salons
Have you had a manicure recently? If so, you probably noticed the amount of plastic they use once and then throw away. Fingers get wrapped, polish gets wiped off, and mini nail files get tossed. There’s plastic wrap where you set your hands down, and there’s plastic bags spun around your oiled-up fingers. My suggestion: stay at home and paint your nails in the comfort of your own house!
2. Take-out Food (bring your own!)
Nobody loves Chinese take-out more than this girl right here. Sadly, when you order take-out, the food comes in flimsy plastic containers with single-use utensils and straws. Avoid this waste by offering to bring in your own containers before your food is done, so they can package your meal using your dishes. Simply ask when ordering to not include utensils with your food either—after all, you’re taking it home where you have silverware. If you plan to eat your meal at the park, or somewhere other than your house, don’t forget to pack utensils before you head out. I love finding use for my travel-size bamboo utensils. Plus look at the adorable, convenient cloth bag they came in.
3. Coffee Shops
16 billion disposable coffee cups wind up in our landfills every year on average. These are coated in a plastic lining and takes ages to decompose—and in landfills where the resources to help objects decay are far and few, they sometimes never biodegrade. These are also definitely not recyclable. Easy hack: bring your own cup! Some coffee shops even offer discounts to people that use their own mug.
4. Cigarettes
I’m not here to preach the reasons why smoking is harmful. However, I will say that cigarette butts are also dangerous to the planet and its animals. Cigarette butts are almost always littered and can be consumed by birds and other creatures. Ditch the cigarettes—or dispose of them properly.
There are plenty of other places and things we can avoid (or bring our own to) in our plastic-free adventure. But like I’ve said before, I’m starting small! Send suggestions my way on how to go waste-free—I’d love to hear them.
Plastic-free, Please! 